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Top 21 Best Forest Whitaker Movies On Netflix In 2024 [Ranked]

Aakriti MishraAakriti-Updated Jan 12, 2024


top 21 best Forest Whitaker Movies on netflix in 2024 [Ranked]

 

Forest Whitaker is an American actor, filmmaker and activist. Whitaker made his film debut in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, post which he earned a reputation for performing intensive characters including in films such as Platoon, Bird, The Great Debaters and Arrival.

 

His role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland won him an Academy Award for Best Actor. His directorial debut was in the television film Strapped. Whitaker is also known for his activism and humanitarian works, apart from his films and was inducted as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

 

If you're looking to learn a bit more about Forest Whitaker through the films he does, then we've got you covered through our extensive list of some of his best works available on Netflix below.

 

 

 

1. The Crying Game (1992)

 

The Crying Game (1992)

 

The Crying Game is a crime-drama film that has been helmed for the screen by Neil Jordan. It features actors Stephen Rea, Jaye Davidson, and Forest Whitaker in pivotal roles. The motion picture was released in 1992 with a 1 hour and 52 min runtime.

 

British soldier Jody is captured by the IRA after a female member of their unit lures him to a secluded area. The unit intends on holding Jody till an imprisoned IRA member is released, and if their demands aren't met, they plan on executing him. Fergus is asked to stand guard over Jody, and the two begin to bond.

 

After Jody is accidentally killed, Fergus escapes to London and starts to set a new life for himself with a new identity. He also seeks out Jody's girlfriend Dil, and the two begin to fall in love, with her being unaware of Fergus' role in Jody's death. Meanwhile, Fergus, too is unaware of a secret of Dil's.

 

Available Countries: United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Algeria, Egypt, and Iraq

 

 

 

2. Arrival (2016)

 

Arrival (2016)

 

With a budget of $47,000,000, this blockbuster film raked in an impressive $203,388,186 at the box office. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and featuring a star-studded cast including Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker, this movie is a must-watch for all movie fans.

 

In the United States, Linguist Louise Banks is recruited along with physicist Ian Donnelly to study twelve extraterrestrial spacecraft that hover over various locations around the Earth. Banks and Donnelly make contact with two seven-limbed aliens and attempt to research the complex written language of the aliens, consisting of palindromic phrases.

 

Matters begin to get complicated when they end up mistaking certain symbols and words.

 

Available Countries: Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Brazil, and Finland

 

 

 

3. Dope (2015)

 

Dope (2015)

 

Actors Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, and Kiersey Clemons have delivered stellar performances in Dope. Thanks to them, the feature film was able to receive various nominations and wins, including Black Reel Awards.

 

Malcolm is sure about his admission to Harvard, but his career counsellor thinks otherwise. Invited to a party, Malcolm finds himself possessing drugs and a gun before police raids the place.

 

His attempts to get rid of the unwanted belongings lands him in one trouble to another. An unknown caller pushes Malcolm to hand over the drugs while Dom, whose party Malcolm went to, stops him.

 

As Malcolm constructs an elaborate plan, his admission to Harvard remains his priority.

 

Available Countries: United Arab Emirates, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Bahrain

 

 

 

4. The Great Debaters (2007)

 

The Great Debaters (2007)

 

The Great Debaters is a biography-drama which has been helmed for the screen by Denzel Washington.

 

Toplined by actors such as Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, and Kimberly Elise (main characters), the film was released in 2007 with a runtime of 2 hours and 6 min.

 

The Great Debaters is based on real-life events and narrates the society of Texas in the 1930s following the Great Depression. The life of African-Americans conflicted with daily bullying and lynching.

 

A debate coach, Melvin B. Tolson's effects, led the students of Wiley College, a predominantly black college, to stand on equal footing with the white students during the regularity of Jim Crow law which endangered the lives of Black people.

 

Wiley College went on to compete against Harvard students.

 

Available Countries: Netherlands

 

 

 

5. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

 

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

 

Featuring Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Hugh Bonneville in the lead, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a family-fantasy movie that was released in 2020. It comprises a talented team of crew members David E. Talbert (director), David E. Talbert (screenplay), Remi Adefarasin (cinematography), and others.

 

The motion picture received a score of 6.5 on IMDb, while it received 69 out of 100 on Metacritic.

 

In the beautiful town of Cobbleton, the legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle creates fancy inventions that are bursting with wonder and whim. 

 

When his trusted apprentice steals his most prized creation, it is up to his bright and inventive granddaughter along with a long-forgotten invention that is capable of heading buried wounds and awakening the magic within.

 

Available Countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Germany

 

 

6. Panic Room (2002)

 

Panic Room (2002)

 

Looking for a movie to watch? Panic Room could be a good option. With a runtime of 1 hour and 52 min and released in 2002, it stars Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, and Forest Whitaker and was directed by David Fincher.

 

Meg and her diabetic young daughter move into a four-storey brownstone in New York City. The previous owner of the house was a reclusive millionaire who had installed a panic room to protect occupants from intruders.

 

On their first night, three men break into the house to steal bearer bonds locked inside a floor safe in the panic room. Mother and daughter take shelter in the panic room, unaware of the plans of the intruders, leading them to try for all possible means to get them out.

 

Available Countries: India

 

 

7. Southpaw (2015)

 

Southpaw (2015)

 

Southpaw is an action-drama which has been helmed for the screen by Antoine Fuqua.

 

Toplined by actors such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, and Oona Laurence (main characters), the film was released in 2015 with a runtime of 2 hours and 4 min.

 

Billy Hope is a professional boxer and reigning champion in the Light Heavyweight division with a stunning win-loss record of 42-0 living a happy and satisfied life in New York City, with his wife and daughter.

 

A fatal incident leaves his wife dead and causes him to spiral into alcohol and drugs and lose the custody of his daughter. As Billy hopes to make amends and bring his life back on track for the ones that matter the most, only former boxer Tick Wills can help him find the firm ground again.

 

Available Countries: Germany, Italy, Brazil, Switzerland, and Argentina

 

 

8. Out of the Furnace (2013)

 

Out of the Furnace (2013)

 

Out of the Furnace is an action-crime film that has been helmed for the screen by Scott Cooper. It features actors Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, and Zoe Saldana in pivotal roles. The motion picture was released in 2013 with a 1 hour and 56 min runtime.

 

Russell and Rodney are brothers living in the financially challenging Rust Belt stretch of the United States. They have always wanted to escape their lot in life and make their own way.

 

But fate is known to be cruel and it proves as much to Russell, who is sent to prison. This leaves Rodney seeking work with one of the most heartless crime gangs in the Northeast.

 

His decision to do so will cost him everything he holds dear. Once Russell is let out of jail, the man is confused about pursuing his freedom in earnest or risking it all to help his brother find justice.  

 

Available Countries: Germany, and Switzerland

 

 

9. Street Kings (2008)

 

Street Kings (2008)

 

Street Kings premiered in theatres in 2008. Directed by David Ayer, this movie features Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, and Hugh Laurie in the lead. If you have a particular liking for action-crime movies, then you can try this title.

 

Street Kings received a score of 6.8 on IMDb and 55 on Metacritic.

 

The undercover alcoholic detective with the LAPD, Tom Ludlow, meets with Korean gangsters he believes are responsible for the kidnapping of two teenage girls. He reaches their hideout and kills the gangsters, and saves the girls, but his former partner, detective Terrence Washington grows weary of him and starts an investigation against Tom.

 

Believing Washington to snitch on him, Ludlow beats him up. However, when two gangsters under the pretence of robbery kill him, Tom is taken as the culprit. He decides to work his way around the corrupt police force and clear his name, and uncover shocking mysteries.

 

Available Countries: Philippines, Indonesia, Poland, Denmark, and Brazil

 

 

10. The Last Stand (2013)

 

The Last Stand (2013)

 

Headlined by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Knoxville, The Last Stand is an action-thriller that hit the screens in 2013.

 

Jee-woon Kim brought the story to life with the help of competent crew members such as Andrew Knauer (screenplay), Kim Ji-yong (cinematography), and many others.

 

After messing up a major LAPD operation that saw his partner being crippled, a guilt-stricken and disgraced Ray Owens takes up the unenviable position of sheriff at a sleepy town called Sommerton Junction.

 

Action and a chance at redemption end up finding Ray when one of the most notorious drug kingpins escapes his FBI prisoner transport and uses a custom-designed car to rush the border along with hostages and a crew of no-good gang members.

 

US law enforcement is on his trail and are intent not to lose the crime boss. Crossing the border is the criminal's only hope for freedom, but it looks like he has to go through Sommerton Junction and a certain Sheriff Owens who recently started working there.

 

Available Countries: India, Brazil, and Argentina

 

 

11. Big George Foreman (2023)

 

Big George Foreman (2023)

 

Big George Foreman is a biography-drama film that has been helmed for the screen by George Tillman Jr.. It features actors Khris Davis, Jasmine Mathews, and Sullivan Jones in pivotal roles. The motion picture was released in 2023 with a 2 hours and 9 min runtime.

 

George Foreman's journey from poverty-stricken surroundings to becoming a rising young boxer, his aspirations is inspiring. When a match goes wrong, George renounces fighting and takes on a new role as a Baptist minister. A long while later, when financial burdens are ready to take down his family, church, and struggling gym, George gets in touch with his former trainer and gets back in the ring. At 45, he became the oldest boxer to win the heavyweight championship

 

Available Countries: United States, India, Philippines, Indonesia, and the Netherlands

 

 

12. City of Lies (2018)

 

City of Lies (2018)

 

Headlined by Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker, and Toby Huss, City of Lies is a biography-crime that hit the screens in 2018.

 

Brad Furman brought the story to life with the help of competent crew members such as Christian Contreras (screenplay), Monika Lenczewska (cinematography), and many others.

 

Los Angeles Times investigative reporter Darius Jackson is assigned to write about the murder of Christopher Wallace. He meets retired LAPD detective Russell Poole who reveals his theory of Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight paid corrupt LAPD officers to murder Wallace and cover it up.

 

As Poole delves deeper into the investigation, and inches closer to unravelling the truth, his seniors go out of their way to ensure he is unable to get to it.

 

Available Countries: Canada, Philippines, and Indonesia

 

 

13. Everyone's Hero (2006)

 

Everyone's Hero (2006)

 

Looking for a movie to watch? Everyone's Hero could be a good option. With a runtime of 1 hour and 27 min and released in 2006, it stars Jake T. Austin, Brian Dennehy, and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Colin Brady, Christopher Reeve, and Daniel St. Pierre.

 

Stanley works as a custodian at Yankee Stadium, from where Babe Ruth's famous bat Darlin' is stolen. His son Yankee Irving is a young baseball fan who is blamed for the theft and grounded.

 

Determined to reclaim the bat and save his family from being evicted onto the streets, Yankee sets out to collect the bat and return it to its rightful place. Along the way, he gets to meet the greatest baseball player of all time and through an adventurous and perilous journey, can find the hero within him.

 

Available Countries: Australia, and New Zealand

 

 

14. Vantage Point (2008)

 

Vantage Point (2008)

 

Vantage Point premiered in theatres in 2008. Directed by Pete Travis, this movie features Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, and Matthew Fox in the lead. If you have a particular liking for action-crime movies, then you can try this title.

 

Vantage Point received a score of 6.6 on IMDb and 40 on Metacritic.

 

U.S. President Henry Ashton is in Salamanca, Spain to address the city. A Secret Service agent, a plain-clothed cop, his girlfriend and another man, a tourist with a video camera capturing all the happenings on stage and a mother and child are seen in the vicinity of the address. 

 

When an assassination attempt on the President is followed by an explosion in the square, each of the character's actions is looked into. Can the Secret Service agent find the culprit or is the web much more complicated than he'd expected? 

 

Available Countries: India, Philippines, and Indonesia

 

 

15. A Dark Truth (2012)

 

A Dark Truth (2012)

 

Bankrolled by Vortex Words Pictures and helmed by Damian Lee, A Dark Truth is an action-drama that hit the screens in 2012.

 

A mega international water purification company has a major filtration system malfunction in Ecuador, leading to a typhoid breakout. Government security forces move in and start shooting the villages to ensure no information goes out. 

 

Morgan Swinton, daughter of the family-controlled business, discovers what's happening and hires ex-CIA agent Jack to go down and bring the information of what's going on and expose the reality. 

 

Available Countries: Canada

 

 

16. Taken 3 (2014)

 

Taken 3 (2014)

 

With a budget of $48,000,000, this blockbuster film raked in an impressive $326,479,141 at the box office. Directed by Olivier Megaton and featuring a star-studded cast including Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, and Maggie Grace, this movie is a must-watch for all movie fans.

 

Retired CIA officer Bryan Mills must use his specialized skills to save his daughter, Kim, after his ex-wife Lenore is murdered and Kim is kidnapped. With the LAPD hot on his trail and an intricate web of lies and deceit to unravel, Bryan must race against the clock to take down the criminal mastermind responsible for their suffering and clear his name.

 

But can he trust his old colleagues, or will they turn on him as well?

 

Available Countries: Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, and Norway

 

 

17. How It Ends (2018)

 

How It Ends (2018)

 

Starring Theo James, Kat Graham, and Nancy Sorel, How It Ends tells a familiar story with a competent script and direction. While not a standout in any particular area, it provides a solid movie-going experience.

 

With his pregnant wife situated in an entirely different location, Will Younger braves the ongoing apocalypse – which has taken root in the United States and abroad – to go to her as quickly as he can. Thousands of miles separate him from the woman he loves and the unborn child she's carrying.

 

Thwarting his journey are several dystopian elements and people who don't care about Will or his plans. In a world where everything is dying, is there truly any hope left for empathy, let alone humanity?

 

Available Countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Germany

 

 

18. First Daughter (2004)

 

First Daughter (2004)

 

First Daughter premiered in theatres in 2004. Directed by Forest Whitaker, this movie features Katie Holmes, Marc Blucas, and Michael Keaton in the lead. If you have a particular liking for comedy-drama movies, then you can try this title.

 

First Daughter received a score of 5 on IMDb and 31 on Metacritic.

 

Samantha Mackenzie is the eldest daughter of US President John Mackenzie and First Lady Melanie Mackenzie. Her life is far from normal. After all, being the President’s daughter comes with its own share of hurdles, restrictions, and privileges.

 

She just wants to have a normal life, but that’s almost impossible for a girl in her position. She soon enrols at Redmond University, California, around the same time as when her father makes a re-election bid for a second term in office.

 

The President’s political opponents soon target Samantha and want to use her ‘normal’ college life to reduce John’s chances of returning to the White House.

 

Available Countries: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, and India

 

 

19. Freelancers (2012)

 

Freelancers (2012)

 

Headlined by 50 Cent, Robert De Niro, and Forest Whitaker, Freelancers is an action-crime that hit the screens in 2012.

 

Jessy Terrero brought the story to life with the help of competent crew members such as L. Philippe Casseus (screenplay), Igor Martinovic (cinematography), and many others.

 

Jonas Maldonado, the son of a slain NYPD officer, decides to join the police academy along with his two best friends. After graduating, he is taken under the wing of his father's former partner, Captain Joe Sarcone. Under his tutelage, Jonas becomes part of a rogue task force consisting of dirty cops.

 

After learning from the District Attorney's office that his father was murdered by Sarcone for turning in state evidence, Jonas frames Sarcone for theft from powerful mob boss Gabriel Baez. With his help, Jonas decides to take on the dirty cops responsible for his father's death.

 

Available Countries: Korea

 

 

20. Catch .44 (2011)

 

Catch .44 (2011)

 

Looking for a movie to watch? Catch .44 could be a good option. With a runtime of 1 hour and 34 min and released in 2011, it stars Malin Akerman, Nikki Reed, and Deborah Ann Woll and was directed by Aaron Harvey.

 

Drug boss Mel sends his associates Tes, Dawn and Kara to intercept a truck driver bringing rival drugs to a diner at night. The women fail to identify him and draw guns on the diner's other occupants, and demand to know if anyone knows the driver. A shootout ensues, and the diner's owner and a patron draw out their firearms.

 

Soon after it is revealed that no drugs were coming to the diner and the whole job was a set-up. Mel had orchestrated the whole thing to kill Tes and her cohorts.

 

Available Countries: United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Algeria, Egypt, and Iraq

 

 

21. Battlefield Earth (2000)

 

Battlefield Earth (2000)

 

Helmed for the screen by Roger Christian, Battlefield Earth is an action-adventure that hit the screens in 2000.

 

Its crew members include Corey Mandell, and J.D. Shapiro (screenplay), Giles Nuttgens (cinematography), and Patrick Tatopoulos (costume), among others. The full-length feature was able to amass over $29,725,663 at the box office and received Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards, Razzie Awards, and The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.

 

In the year 3000, Psychlos, a race of humanoid aliens rules the Earth and use humans for slave labour. Johnny and Carlo, members of the last few nomadic tribes that live in freedom, stray from the tribe and get captured by the Psychlos.

 

After taking an interest in human history, Johnny spearheads a rebel revolution, fighting for independence. After gassing the aliens out of their air domes, Johnny takes two Psychlo prisoners of war, as a bargaining chip for the future.

 

Available Countries: Australia, Japan, and New Zealand

 

 

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